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Index of Subjects Hi Angus, others, They actually prefer something light coloured on top and dark underneath, which you'd imagine might guide a horsefly to the shady underbelly of deer. So one suggested collecting trick I recall seeing is to spray the bottom half of a large white beach ball with black paint and suspend it on a string under a frame or something, and visit it later with a butterfly net. An easier method is that tabanids (or least many of them) assemble very effectively to a slow stream of carbon dioxide gas, but to do this you need either a supply of solid (frozen) CO2 in an insulating styrofoam box from which it gradually sublimes as a gas, or a CO2 gas cylinder with a pressure reduction valve. CO2 gas is an effective, quick, reversible insect anaesthetic, so many workers have these gas bottles anyway. I recall raising eyebrows when I deployed mine in a Martinique beach picnic area years ago -- was very effective, I think, for a Hybomitra species which arrived in droves within minutes. I think these are always females, as Randy points out. A trick for immobilizing various insects to photo them (if you can catch one -- always carry an insect net) is to transfer it to a pill vial. Later at home, place this in the kitchen freezer (usually about -15°C) for about 10-20 minutes: depends on the size of the vial and of the insect, too long of course will kill it. When you tip it out on to a surface at room temperature, it will be completely immobile and you have perhaps 2-3 minutes to take photos before it warms up enough to make an escape. If instead you drop the insect on to a freezer cold pack with a bit of insulation on top so it doesn't stay too cold, you can have even longer before it warms up. Drops of condensation on the insect may be a problem if the RH is very high, however. Steve (Hfx) ________________________________________ From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] on behalf of Angus MacLean [cold_mac@hotmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2014 9:09 PM To: naturens Subject: [NatureNS] Nature Notes This afternoon along Butler Road (S. of Kentville) & elsewhere, there were surprising numbers of bumble bees on Knapweed & Goldenrod. The most common was Bombus ternarius (Tri-colored Bumble Bee) with lesser numbers of Bombus vagans (Half-Black Bumble Bee) & a few Bombus impatiens, the latter very common earlier in the spring/summer. There were a few other species but I'll have to study my photos closely to determine (maybe) what they were. One site long Butler R. is great for tabanids especially Deer Flies. Deer Flies are apparently attracted to black objects so they often land on the outside mirror frames of my vehicle. This can be frustrating since when I try to get close they prefer to land on my black camera, Nevertheless this offers good opportunities for pics. Horse flies are a different thing. When they land, usually on my legs, I try to stun them & get a photo that way. However they are tough critters so whacking them & hoping to find them on the ground is a rare occurrence. Rarely have I been bitten & not at all this summer. Very odd! Very few butterflies.. a few fritillaries & the usual sulphurs & cabbage butterflies. Angus
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